A slow start and two early INTs by Eli Manning, but RBs Brandon Jacobs (73-yard run) and Ahmad Bradshaw (48-yard TD) came up huge. They combined for 219 yards and two TDs on 25 carries. Sackless-streak ended at five games. Hakeem Nicks was very effective in his return, but Steve Smith was not.

DEFENSE A+

Great work inside against Adrian Peterson, holding dangerous runner in check. Big guys up front (four sacks) hounded Tarvaris Jackson, who looked overmatched and finished 15-for-30 for 118 yards and an interception. WR Sidney Rice is hard to stop, but DBs did pretty good job of it.

SPECIAL TEAMS C+

The Giants were fortunate Lorenzo Booker’s 96-yard TD return was called back by a penalty and they allowed 52-yard punt return. Pretty sloppy. Matt Dodge started slowly, but recovered and had a nice punt out of bounds on 8-yard line.

COACHING A

With Manning struggling early, offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride smartly kept the ball on the ground to get the attack going. Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell’s plan kept Jackson from doing any damage with his legs. Tom Coughlin was so into it — maybe too much so — that the Giants’ bench was hit with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.